Freedom Wings movie gets transmission today MARCH 21, 2011, on the Community Channel during the following times, GMT – 08.40 / 14.40 / 03.40 On Freeview Channel 87, Sky Channel 539, Virgin Media channel 233
Click on the image to watch a film about our Freedom Wings day with Ability Media on the Community Channel
Cranfield University scientists are about to make flying easier and more inclusive, for pilots with limited lower limb disabilities, thanks to a new handheld device for rudder control. Its sole use is to allow full rudder and steering authority on the ground and in the air, removing the need for legs and feet.
The three year project started when Gautam Lewis, a trainee pilot at Cranfield Flying School, approached the University to help him design an easier control device. Gautam Lewis, who contracted polio as a child, currently relies on a rudder hand control from Australia that he has to shift up and down to move the plane from side to side. The novel idea behind Cranfield’s design is that it is more intuitive and uses a sideways motion to control the plane from side to side. Its design means it can be fitted to a number of aircraft including Cessna’s 172, 152 and the Piper PA28 Warrior and Cherokee.
The project has been run by Course Director Phill Stocking and yearly Aerospace Vehicle Design MSc students.
Gautam said: “I knew that Cranfield had an aerospace lineage so I asked if they could find a way for me to fly. Their great aviation minds have managed to design a hand control that is easy to use and install. It does exactly what we set out to do. I just want to get the message out there that being disabled is not an obstacle when it comes to flying and Cranfield’s great attitude has helped me to do that.”
Now a fully qualified pilot, and Founder of Freedom in the Air, Gautam added: “I was really passionate about wanting to fly so I just kept plugging away at it and persevered. Having a disability made me more determined to fly. I drive my car with a handheld device so I couldn’t see why I couldn’t fly a plane with one.”
Mr Stocking said: “I feel pleased that Cranfield may help in giving disabled people the opportunity to obtain their pilots licence. It is great to be part of it.”
This year’s AVD student, Chitresh Bodha, has been refining the prototype design from last year’s design. He said: “Working on this project, I feel I have achieved a lot. The device has been designed using readily available materials. There is no point designing something that is too complex or too costly to make. There has been a lot of paperwork with the certification, maintenance and installation manuals.”
Efficiency tests of the rudder have so far only taken place on the ground to test ground manoeuvrability and skills training.
The device is now at a point where the group can approach the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to gain approval for the design in all 31 member countries. Once approval is gained, it is hoped that the rudder hand control could be rolled out within weeks.
ENDS
Further information
Cranfield University is a wholly postgraduate institution with a worldwide reputation for excellence and expertise in aerospace, automotive, defence, engineering, environment and water, health, management and manufacturing. The University is made up of the following Schools: Cranfield Health, School of Management, School of Applied Sciences, School of Engineering, and Cranfield Defence and Security at Shrivenham. For more information visit www.cranfield.ac.uk
Freedom in the Air (FITA) is a new, unique and exciting aviation Not-for-profit Community Interest Company. FITA is committed to opening horizons for people with disabilities so that they can fly higher socially, physically and professionally. FITA challenge, educate and give transferable skills through learning to fly. Flying aeroplanes can raise people’s sights, expand their horizons, improve their life chances and fulfill their potential. FITA wants to train pilots with disabilities who can emulate the unbreakable spirit of air ace Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader.
Picture – Gautam showing how to use the rudder with the hand controls attached on the peddles
For further information please contact:
Gautam Lewis, Freedom in the Air, +440(0) 20 8 740 8806, gautam [at] freedomintheair.org
Naomie Stanford-Jones, Media Relations Executive, Cranfield University, tel: +44 (0) 1234 754999
Email: mediarelations@cranfield.ac.uk
The Douglas Bader Foundation is a charity organisation, formed in honour of Sir Douglas Bader in 1982 by family and friends, many of whom had flown side by side with Douglas during World War 2. Douglas was honoured in 1976 with a Knighthood for his contribution and work on behalf of the disabled. The mission of the foundation is to continue Douglas’ work in conjunction with and on behalf of individuals with a disability.
FITA spoke to David Bickers, the Chairman of the organisation about Douglas and the work of the foundation.
During my pilot training days, I felt alive and felt a sense of freedom, of being liberated. I started to have new dreams and visualise my future where I wanted to help change peoples lives, if not try and change the world. After reading about Freedom in the Air, Vivian Fiore from Rotary International’s office in Chicago found me and gave me the leadership that I was looking for in polio eradication. Using my skills, contacts and drive instilled from the music industry, I volunteered to support Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate Polio from India.
I was invited to go to India and take part in a National Immunization Day with Rotarians. This was going to be very special for me. Before leaving for India, I did as much research as possible as to what I should expect. For 20 years so many people have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to develop the immunization campaign. I would spend the time I had in India in Moradabad. This was where I took part in the eradication programme in Moradabad in Utter Pradesh, both on the static booth day and the house-to-house day. The following film captures my first experience in the world largest public health campaign.
I met with UNICEF, WHO, and the local government. It was completely overwhelming to understand the amazing work of the partner organizations. UNICEF who Continue reading ‘Thanks for Life : World largest Public health campaign’
Shri Kanti Ganguly, Minister in Charge Department of Sundarban Affairs, Sports and Youth Services Government of West Bengal has set up Prantibhandi Village. It is a small village of education facilities, nursing training, a garment factory – all to support and help young people and their families who have a wide range of disabilities. I was very proud to have been invited to speak at a rally to 15,000 people on 3rd December, the UN day to promote rights for people with disabilities. The event was organised by Shri Kanti Ganguly. It was one of the very few NGO’s in Kolkata that is run mostly by people who have disabilities.
The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation’s oldest and largest public affairs forum, bringing together its more than 18,000 members for over 400 annual events on topics ranging across politics, culture, society and the economy.
A very interesting interview with Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger
We are very proud of our Patron, Suzi Duncan
Australian Queen’s Birthday Honours recipient Suzi said that revelation 19 years ago prompted her to want to share the experience with others.
She received this great honour for service to people with a disability, particularly through the Wheelies with Wings
program,and to the community. In 2003 she achieved her dream and founded Wheelies with Wings which has now helped 48 people with disabilities learn to fly in Australia.
In the Australian honours system appointments to the Order of Australia confer recognition for outstanding achievement and service. The Medal of the Order of Australia is awarded for service worthy of particular recognition. Recipients of the Order of Australia are from many fields of endeavour and all walks of life.
read the full article about her award in The Herald, Australia
The global fight to rid the world of polio, the largest public health programme in history, is said to be in its final stages.
Is eradication possible? Is it worth the enormous cost?
Newshour on the BBC World Service brought together public health experts with very different opinions to debate the issue.
Dr Bruce Aylward is director of the polio eradication programme of the World Health Organisation and Dr D.A. Henderson of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center led the WHO’s successful effort to eradicate smallpox.
Newshour also heard from Nigeria, one of the countries where the polio virus still thrives and from Gautam Lewis, a British pilot and a polio campaigner who suffered from polio as a young child in India. Gautam has spent the last few years assisting Rotary International in their vision for a polio free world.
Listen to the debate, courtesy of the BBC (25 mins 29 secs) / first broadcast 21 February 2009 ( we have added a slideshow to go along with the radio debate)
Freedom in the Air Ambassador Tess Burrows has become the first Grandmother in the World to complete and finish the Amundsen Omega 3 race to the south pole.
They arrived on Friday 23rd January 2009, in the afternoon to a ‘warm’ welcome.
The Peace Message Ceremony was held at 9pm GMT on Monday 26th January. Thank you for tuning in wherever you were. You helped make the peace message process as powerful as possible. (You can tune in at 9pm GMT on any of the next few days with your thoughts for peace and harmony for the Earth.)
You can visit their website by clicking here. Tess made a tape the day they arrived at the South Pole, listen below.
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